The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution Volume XI Part 20

LUZERNE.

TO GEORGE WASHINGTON.

Translation.

Philadelphia, November 30th, 1782.

Sir,

I received the letters your Excellency honored me with the 13th, 19th, and 22d of this month, and have forwarded yours for the Count de Vergennes. From the reports which I have received from the Jerseys, it appears, that the care of the Legislature and the vigilance you have excited in the Executive, have produced happy effects in stopping the facility, with which supplies were sent to New York. I well know the impossibility of preventing that commerce by means of military guards; but in putting the zeal of the good citizens in activity, I am persuaded some bounds may be put to a practice so destructive to the interests of the United States as well as of her allies.

I am under great obligations to your Excellency for communicating to me what has pa.s.sed relative to the fleets of the enemy at New York. I beg you to continue this communication, even after M. de Vaudreuil has departed, for by transmitting these accounts to the Minister of Marine, I enable him to judge better of the measures he has to take, knowing the force and movements of the enemy on these coasts.

I have the honor to be, &c.

LUZERNE.

TO ROBERT R. LIVINGSTON.

Translation.

Philadelphia, December 11th, 1782.

Sir,

I have received the letter, with which you honored me yesterday. I have, in consequence, the honor of sending you triplicate copies of a letter, which I wrote to the Count de Durat, Governor of Grenada. Be pleased to send it to the persons whom it concerns, and to recommend to them to annex to it French copies of their Memorial. I hope that it may contribute to their satisfaction. I can only invite the Admiralties of our Islands to take affairs of this kind into consideration.

I have the honor to be, &c.

LUZERNE.

TO GEORGE WASHINGTON.

Translation.

Philadelphia, December 18th, 1782.

Sir,

I have the honor to enclose your Excellency a letter, which, after having read and sealed, I am to request you to forward with all possible despatch. I hope that the arrival of my despatches will enable me to be more particular. It will be necessary to recommend to the chain of expresses, to hold themselves in readiness to carry on the despatches, which I shall have to send by another Courier.

I have the honor to be, &c.

LUZERNE.

TO THE MARQUIS DE VAUDREUIL.

Translation.

Philadelphia, December 18th, 1782.

Sir,

I this instant learn by an express arrived from the Capes, that the Danae entered the day before yesterday, and in a thick fog had the misfortune to get aground; probably she will be got off; she is within the Capes. She left France the 8th of November; the express has not brought a single letter, and I do not expect them till tomorrow or the day after. If there are any for you, they shall be sent on with the greatest despatch, and if there are none, you shall have an express with the news. It is said, that there are many packets for the army, and one hundred and eighty thousand livres.

The only Frenchmen of our acquaintance on board are General Duportail and M. de Gouvion.

The whole of the force at Cadiz, as well land as naval, is destined for the West Indies.

I have the honor to be, &c.

LUZERNE.

TO THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

Translation.

Philadelphia, December 26th, 1782.

Sir,

The undersigned Minister Plenipotentiary of France has the honor of informing Congress, that his Majesty has received, with the most lively sensibility, the proofs of the measures taken by them on the birth of the Dauphin.[15] The King has ordered the Chevalier de la Luzerne to a.s.sure this a.s.sembly, that they could not have manifested their attachment to him, on an occasion more dear to him, and that this circ.u.mstance will, if possible, add new force to his affection for the United States, as well as to his wish to establish their happiness upon a permanent foundation.

I have the honor to be, &c.

LUZERNE.

FOOTNOTES:

[15] See the proceedings of Congress here alluded to in the _Secret Journal_, Vol. III. p. 106.

SUBSTANCE OF A VERBAL COMMUNICATION FROM THE FRENCH MINISTER.

Office of Foreign Affairs, December 30th, 1782.